Coral skyscraper mapped using 3D seabed modeling. Source: theguardian.com.
On October 20, 2020, scientists aboard the Schmidt Ocean Institute’s ship The Falkor discovered a 1600-foot-tall, rod-like reef formation that stretches all the way from the seafloor to just 40 meters below the surface. Chief investigator Tom Bridge and his team discovered the anomaly via 3D seabed modeling of the northern end of the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, Australia, and measured it to be almost 1 mile wide. Scientists were amazed at how this reef structure, which is taller than the Empire State Building, was yet to be discovered.
After initially mapping the structure, the researchers sent an underwater robot known as “SuBastian” to film and record more data on the reef. This newly discovered section of reef does not seem to contain hard coral—rock-like skeleton made from calcium carbonate—but rather a vast abundance of sponges, sea fans, and soft corals. The presence of these specific organisms suggests that the reef is rich in nutrients carried by strong currents. Reef fish such as the tiny hatchetfish, the silvertip shark, and the grey reef shark were seen by an underwater robot inhabiting the reef.
The Schmidt Ocean Institute ship, as a part of a year-long expedition, continued mapping and exploring the northern part of the reef until mid-November. This expedition has found possibly dozens of yet-to-be-described species and encountered in April what is currently the longest sea creature recorded, a 150-foot-long Siphonophore. Similar findings are likely to be made as the expedition continues, and the discovery of this unique reef structure will continue to spur further efforts to explore these uncharted regions of the Great Barrier Reef. Important discoveries such as this one further emphasize the importance of exploring and surveying the ocean, which still remains largely unexplored. Much more work remains to be done in order to uncover the hidden wonders of this reef tower, the Great Barrier Reef as a whole, and our planet's oceans.
A close-up picture of a portion of the Coral Skyscraper. Source: theguardian.com.